Tauscher unsure where his career will take him next

Green Bay - Mark Tauscher doesn't know if there's football in his future.

Released July 29, the 11-year veteran of the Green Bay Packers, is taking time to figure out what his next move is. He still isn't back to full strength since undergoing rotator cuff surgery on his right shoulder last year and until he is, he won't make his next career move.

"I failed my physical and before I make that decision I 've got to get healthy and then I’ll make that decision," Tauscher said in a phone interview Thursday morning. "As of right now, I’ll try to rehab and deal with passing the physical.

"It’s doing better, but I think it’s going to have to make some improvements and I think it will. With that said, I don’t know what the time frame will be."

If Tauscher has animosity toward the Packers for releasing him rather than carrying him on the physically unable to perform list, he didn't express it Tuesday. He spoke with general manager Ted Thompson before the move was made official and then said goodbye to the organization for which he spent every year of his professional career.

He and Thompson spoke about a number of different things, but whether the door is open for him to return should the Packers have a problem on their offensive line remains unclear. Because he still has to get his body right, there wasn't much reason to discuss it.

"We had a real nice conversation and we kind of left it at that," Tauscher said. "Any future plans, it was kind of rehashing and talking a little bit and that was the extent of it."

The Packers had planned on moving ahead without Tauscher two years ago after he tore ligaments in his knee, but they called him up at mid-season to bail them out of a huge spot and he delivered, solidifying the right tackle position and helping the Packers make the playoffs.

Last year, he was the starter again, but the shoulder injury affected his play and eventually he was put on injured reserve with the torn rotator cuff. First-round pick Bryan Bulaga came in and played well enough to claim the position as his for the foreseeable future.

Asked if he thought the window had closed on him ever returning to the Packers, Tauscher said:

"You never say never, but I can’t really worry about that. It's very similar to the last time. I'm just worried about what I can control and that’s getting healthy and then trying to figure out what my next step is going to be, whether that’s playing or not playing. I’ll have to figure that out."

Tauscher had such a positive influence on the offensive line that coach Mike McCarthy had him hang around with the unit after he was put on injured reserve last year. That led to some thought that coaching might be an avenue of employment for him in the future.

For now, Tauscher is helping take care of his young son and working out on his own and not thinking about coaching.

He said he would have loved to take the trip to the White House with the team - in part because he's very interested in politics - but he said he understood the circumstances.

"I completely understand it and I'm not the least bit upset about it," he said. "You have to be able to roll with the punches and I think it will be a great time for those guys."

For a complete story on Mark Tauscher and his career with the Packers, check back later with JSonline.

About Tom Silverstein

Tom Silverstein is in his 25th year covering the Green Bay Packers and 30th year with the Journal Sentinel. He is a two-time Wisconsin Sportswriter of the Year award winner.